William Lee Golden

William Lee Golden (born January 12, 1939) is an American country music singer. Between 1965 and 1987, and again since 1996, he has been the baritone singer in the country vocal group the Oak Ridge Boys. Golden was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015 as a member of the Oak Ridge Boys.

Career Golden joined the Oak Ridge Boys (then a Southern gospel music group) in 1965. Golden is widely known for his waist-length beard and hair, and has become one of the most recognizable faces in the entertainment industry. He was voted out of the Oak Ridge Boys in 1987, as the other three members wanted to change the band's image. In 1990, he moved to Mercury Records and released "Louisiana Red Dirt Highway" as a single only. Sanders left the group in 1995, and Golden returned on New Year's Eve of the same year.

Personal life He has been married four times. Golden was married to Frogene Normand from 1957 to 1975. He married Luetta Callaway in 1984 and they divorced in 1987. He was married to Brenda Kaye Hall from 1990 to 2013. Golden married Simone De Staley in 2015. He has four sons, Rusty, Craig, Chris, and Solomon, a stepdaughter, and seven grandchildren. Golden's sons Rusty (who died in 2024) and Chris recorded as the Goldens for Epic Records and Capitol Records from 1988 to 1991.

Discography Albums Year Album US Country Label 1986 American Vagabond 53 MCA 2000 My Life's Work— Audio Visual Arts III 2010 The Artist — self-released 2022 The Old Country Church— DAVA 2022 Country Roads— DAVA 2022 Southern Accents— DAVA

Singles Year Single Chart positions Album US Country CAN Country 1986 "Love Is the Only Way Out" 53 58 American Vagabond "You Can't Take It with You" 72 52 1990 "Keep Lookin' Up" — — Non-album singles "Louisiana Red Dirt Highway" — —

Guest singles Year Single Artist US Country Album 1990 "Tomorrow's World" Various artists 74 Single only

Music videos Year Single1990 "Keep Lookin' Up" "Louisiana Red Dirt Highway"